Improvement in treadles



E. T. THOMAS. Treadle.

No. 220,890. Patented Oct. 21, I879.

W't I v t UNITED STATES PATENT Qunroa EDDY T. THOMASf OF N EW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO JAMES BANGROFT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TREADLES.

Specification forming part of LettersPatent No. 220,890; dated October 21, 1879; application filed August 9, 1 879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDDY T. THOMAS, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Treadles, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a speciflcation.

This invention relates to treadles for sewing and other machines, and it has for its object such construct-ion of the treadle mechanism that the sewing or other machine may be readily driven by foot or hand power.

In this my invention I have provided the treadle with a flanged or socketed arm ex- "tended upward therefrom in a direction substantially radial with the axle or center about which the treadle turns, the said arm being adapted to receive within it a hand-lever, which, by its vibratory reciprocating motion about the axle of the treadle, turns the said treadle and operates the main shaft of the dri vi n g-power, and actuates the sewing or other mechanism resting upon the table above the said shaft, and handed therewith in anyusual wav.

During the time the motor is being operated by hand the feet of the operator inay rest upon a stationary foot-rest or rests attached tothe axle about which the treadle is made to rock.

It is a well-known fact that many delicate persons can operate a sewing-machine for but a short time through the foot upon the treadle; but by means of a hand-lever, such as I have herein provided, such a machine may be readily and easily moved and the legs kept still.

Figure 1 represents, in side elevation, a motor-stand and treadle for a sewing-machine; and Fig. 2 is a section thereof on line a .10, Fig. 1.

The table a, standards b c, driven shaft 6, fly-wheel d, hanger f, link g, and treadle a-xle h are all of usual construction.

The treadle z'has ears 2 3 at one end, by which'it is pivoted upon the axle h. The said ears are located on the axle between collars j k.

The treadle, at its front end, is connected by a pin, l, with the link g, connected with the crank pin or wrist m of the fly-wheel d, which Wheel (the foot of the operator being applied to the treadle and worked in the usual way) is rotated by its connection with the said link.

As so far described this apparatus does not differ from other common forms of sewing-machine motors.

I provide one of the ears, as herein shown (ear 3,) with a flanged or socketed arm, n, which is adapted to receive the hand-lever o, a screw or bolt, 10, or other suitable fastening being employed to connect the hand-lever and flanged arm. This arm n is extended upward from the ear 3, and in such direction from the axle h, about which the ear and treadle vibrate, that the hand-lever applied to the said flanged arm extends upward in a direction radial to the said axle, which enables the power to drive the treadle to be applied directly to the treadle at its point of oscillation, which enables me to utilize the entire power applied to thesaid lever in the easiest and best possible manner.

This motor and a connected sewing-machine may be easily driven by the application of the hand to the upper end of the lever 0.

To keep the feet from the treadle, and yet afford a proper support for them, I have added to the axle a stationary foot-rest, s, which may be large enough for one or both feet; or two independent foot-rests may be used, and be padded or covered, if desired.

This hand-lever, connected with the outer portion of the foot-treadle, enables the motor to be operated by one person while another attends to sewing.

The hand-lever, when the motor is being run by the feet upon the trea-dle, as usual, may be removed from the socketed arm.

I do not broadly claim a hand-lever to op crate a treadle, nor do I desire to limit my invention to a flanged arm rising from the ear 3, for it is obvious that the said arm might be cast directly upon the frame-work of the treadle.

I claim- The treadle 45, its link, balancewheel,

shaft e, and axle h, combined with the flanged In testimony whereof I have signed my name or socketed arm 11, attached to and forming to this specification in the presence of two parli; of thle treadle, and ahand-lever, substansubscribing witnesses. tia y as escribed.

2. The combination, with the axle and EDDY THOMAS treadle thereon, of the stationary foot-rest lo- Witnesses: cated at the side of the treadle, substantially G. W. GREGORY, as and for the purpose described. N. E. WHITNEY. 

